You have a number of vein treatment options when you have spider veins or varicose veins. Smaller veins are usually treated with sclerotherapy, which involves injecting the veins with a solution so that they collapse and fade away. Although sclerotherapy is a non-invasive treatment that doesn’t require you to take any time off from work, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to prepare for the treatment. There are a few things you can do before the vein treatment to help you get the best results possible.
What to Do Before Sclerotherapy
Discuss Your Medical History
Not everyone is a good candidate for sclerotherapy. Before your treatment, your vein doctors are going to want to dive into your medical history to make sure you don’t have any conditions that would interfere with the treatment. For example, it is usually not recommended for women who are pregnant. If you’ve had blood clots in the past, your doctor might or might not recommend treatment.
Don’t Take Certain Medicines
Your vein doctor might recommend that you avoid certain medicines during the few days leading up to your treatment. You might have to avoid pain relievers that can thin the blood, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, for example. It’s a good idea to review all the medicines and supplements you take with your vascular surgeons before treatment, to make sure it is OK to continue to take them.
Skip Lotion and Shaving
Shaving your legs the day before you go to the beach is usually not recommended, since the sand and salt water can be particularly irritating on freshly shaved legs. The same is true before some vein treatments–it’s best to avoid shaving your legs the night before. It’s also best to avoid putting lotion or oil on your legs starting the day before your treatment.
Limit Sun Exposure
UV rays from the sun can cause the skin to darken at the injection site. Sunlight can also make spider veins worse. To reduce the chance of any spots or darkening, it’s best to minimize your sun exposure for several weeks before and after treatment. Keep your legs covered and make sure to apply sunscreen daily.
Consider Wearing Shorts
Wear loose-fitting clothing to the vein clinic on the day of your treatment. A pair of comfortable shorts can be ideal, as your legs will be exposed and you won’t have to worry about rolling up your pant legs. You can bring a pair of pants to change into after treatment, if you don’t want the compression stockings to be visible.
Have a Snack
You don’t have to fast before your vein treatment. In fact, it’s usually a good idea to have some sort of snack or light meal beforehand so that you aren’t super hungry during it. Just don’t eat so much that you feel uncomfortable from the fullness.
Ready to learn more about sclerotherapy? Contact the Vein and Vascular Institute in New Jersey today.